I was contacted by a man who was carrying out research into the free travel scheme for old age pensioners, and who had difficulties searching the Historical Debates for information about the commencement of the scheme. He though that it was around 1967.
Using the PLWeb search tool on the Historical Debates Web site, searching for Free Travel in “headings” there were 19 hits for Houses Business = “Questions”, including the following:
Dáil Éireann – Volume 227 – 11 April, 1967
Financial Statement. – Budget, 1967.
Current Budget, 1966-67—outturn
Minister for Finance (Mr. Haughey)
…
Free electricity and transport for old age pensioners
…
A scheme is also being worked out in consultation with CIE whereby old age and blind pensioners will be able to travel free of charge on CIE buses and trains during periods when traffic is not heavy. It will be introduced during the course of the next few months.
The net cost of the schemes, as agreed after some experience of their operation, will be reimbursed to the ESB and CIE from public funds.
Dáil Éireann – Volume 228 – 24 May, 1967
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Free Travel for Old Age Pensioners.
Mr. Clinton
27. Mr. Clinton asked the Minister for Finance when free off-peak travel for old age pensioners will start.
Mr. Haughey: While I am not in a position to announce a specific date at this stage, I hope to have the scheme in operation in July.
Dáil Éireann – Volume 230 – 20 July, 1967
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Free Travel for Old Age Pensioners.
Mr. S. Dunne
41. Mr. S. Dunne asked the Minister for Social Welfare the conditions under which free travel facilities are afforded to old age pensioners.
Mr. J. Brennan:The free travel facilities on CIE services are afforded to old age and blind pensioners who are in possession of a current pension book to which has been affixed a notice setting out the conditions under which the concession operates. …
Searching the
Historical Debates Web site for the Social Welfare estimates, I found the following:
Dáil Éireann – Volume 230 – 24 October, 1967
Committee on Finance. – Vote No. 47—Social Welfare.
Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. J. Brennan): I move:
That a sum not exceeding £42,556,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1968, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Social Welfare, for certain Services administered by that Office, for payments to the Social Insurance Fund, and for Sundry Grants…
The expenditure on the free travel Scheme was voted expenditure and so would come under the usual financial procedures for government spending, so some other useful official sources would be:
- Revised Estimates Volume 1967 (and subsequent years), contains detail of expenditure estimates (budgets), each estimate (budget) or “vote” is taken as a separate vote in the Dáil, but may be referred to a committee for debate.
- The Appropriation Act (annual) give statutory effect to the estimates.
- Appropriation Accounts (annual) give details of actual expenditure
- Report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the Appropriation Accounts (annual)
